The Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) is planning to construct 21 foot over bridges (FOB) across the Capital, especially at critical locations that are prone to accidents, officials said on Tuesday.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had last month discussed the matter in a review meeting held with PWD officials, they added.
A senior department official said that the PWD has received a list of 21 locations from the Delhi Traffic Police for the construction of new FOBs.
“It has mentioned why there is a need for new pedestrian infrastructure in these locations… Considering the proposal, the PWD has started a ground survey of these locations. Once completed, a proposal will be made and tenders floated for the construction of the FOBs,” the official added.
“The 21 locations include stretches where accidents have taken place due to a lack of safe pedestrian crossing, such as the stretch from Karkardooma Court red light to Vivek Vihar underpass… There are plans to construct two FOBs here… Besides, PWD has already sent a proposal to construct one FOB at ITO park U-turn…,” said the official.
Officials said that of the 21 probable locations, some stretches fall under agencies like the Delhi Development Authority and the National Highways Authority of India. “At some locations, work on Metro projects is going on. In such locations, the PWD will either develop the FOB along with the department concerned or the department will provide funds to the PWD to build the FOB,” an official said.
As part of this plan, the PWD is working on replacing the existing FOB at Majnu Ka Tila, which is in poor condition, with a new one. “Work has already started in this regard,” said the official.
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Asked about several existing FOBs not being used by pedestrians, an official said, “Many FOBs are not used by pedestrians. They instead prefer to cross the road, taking risks. We have observed that such FOBs are located far away from bus stops or Metro stations… many of these FOBs also do not have lifts and are not disabled friendly…”
As per a study conducted by the Planning department in 2018, of the 74 FOBs that existed in Delhi at that time, 77% lacked lifts, only 23% had escalators, and around 70% did not have a security guard. The study also highlighted that there were too many staircases at some FOBs.
According to officials, Delhi at present has 115 FOBs. “Tender for maintenance, operation and upkeep of the 115 FOBs is under process…. Tenders will be invited soon,” said an official.
According to the Delhi Road Crash Fatalities Report 2022, issued by the Transport department, of the 1,517 fatal crashes that had taken place in 2022, 50% of the victims were pedestrians.